Bulletin: GLP-1s alone won’t solve obesity

GLP-1s alone won’t solve obesity

IGD’s ShopperVista data shows 3% of UK adults have tried GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, and 11% would consider them - rising to 19% among those actively trying to lose weight. That’s over 6 million potential users.

Users report eating less overall, with reduced snacking and alcohol consumption, and increased intake of fruit, vegetables, and protein.

But GLP-1s aren’t a cure-all. Their benefits are often temporary without broader lifestyle support, and they don’t address the root causes of poor diet.

See our latest article - GLP-1s alone won’t fix our food system

IGD opinion

GLP-1s offer promise, but lasting change requires industry-wide innovation - helping people eat better, not just less. The real opportunity lies beyond the needle, in reshaping the food environment.

Labour market strain

The UK labour market continues to show signs of strain:

• The number of vacancies is falling, down by 44,000 on the quarter to 718,000.

• Both temporary and permanent job numbers are down

• Unemployment is edging up, now at 4.7%

The positive news is that inactivity is edging down, now at 36.2%, and activity is edging up, now at 63.8%

Read our latest article: Training to tackle UK labour market shifts

IGD opinion

While performance is not catastrophic, it reflects an economy that is sluggish and uncertain. It is becoming more difficult for young adults to transition from education to work, which is a serious social challenge. If recruitment of new workers slows down, this will set the stage for workforce ageing and succession issues later on.

Dairy sector labour shortfall

An annual survey of 1,900 Arla farmers has revealed that 84% who have tried to fill a vacancy say that they have had very few qualified applicants – or no applicants at all. This has increased from 79% in 2021. Arla Foods warns that staff shortages are threatening productivity, sustainability, and food security. Arla is urging action to improve access to training, streamline visa processes, and attract domestic talent into agriculture. Without intervention, farms risk long-term disruption and economic strain.

IGD opinion

Labour shortages are a serious challenge for the food system. Addressing them requires coordinated efforts across government, industry, and education to secure the future of UK farming. 

GDP growth slowing

New GDP data from ONS shows that the UK economy grew by 0.3% in Q2 2025, though at a slower rate than Q1 (0.7%).

Most growth in Q2 was in June – April and May were very weak, although this may have been because some planned commercial activity was brought forward into Q1 in order to avoid changes to tariffs and stamp duty.

IGD opinion

This data is slightly better than expected by IGD. However, this is preliminary estimate, based on a limited data set and it will be confirmed later.

With growth in Q2 being quite weak, additional data or minor corrections could eliminate it altogether.

While government spending accounted for a large proportion of growth in Q2, household consumption remained subdued. This data does not speak of an economy in great shape.

It is also important to focus on GDP growth on a per-capita basis.

ONS estimates that GDP growth per-capita was only 0.2% in Q2 2025, meaning that about one-third of gains came via population change alone.

One useful lens for evaluating economic progress is the extent to which growth can be achieved independently of demographic shifts.

UK seas hit record temperatures

UK seas saw their warmest start to the year since records began, with surface temperatures Jan–Jul 2025 over 0.2°C higher than any year since 1980. Driven by climate change, this warming is reshaping marine ecosystems. Species like octopus, bluefin tuna, and jellyfish are appearing more frequently. Experts warn these shifts signal an ecosystem in flux.

Climate change is the greatest long-term risk to the UK food system. Read our report Building a resilient food system.